47

THERE’S A LIGHT RAIN as we stand outside the metal fence surrounding the property. Thunderclouds rumble in the distance. The local FBI office has staked the place out per our request for the last twelve hours while Danielle and I traveled here and Knoll cleared things with the local authorities. Agent Shannon picked us up from the airport and gave us the rundown on the way over.

“We flew a sheriff’s helicopter overhead. We didn’t see any cars or evidence of recent activity. Thermal imaging didn’t show us anything either. We’re pretty sure nobody is there.”

On the satellite image, the property looks like a large warehouse with a few smaller buildings on the lot. Most of the land appears to be a junkyard. Property records show it was purchased two years ago. Around the time Chloe was murdered. It’s not proof of anything, but it’s a meaningful coincidence.

The title holder is a company called JTC Investments, incorporated in the Virgin Islands. The D.C. bureau is trying to get to the bottom of it. Unlike the Warlock’s Fort Lauderdale hotel reservation under an attention-getting name, this was not meant to be discovered.

Danielle has her arms crossed as we stare at the fence. Solid aluminum panels make it impossible to see into the lot. Our four sheriff’s department escorts and five field office agents look anxious as they wait for us to decide what to do next.

The local water meter inspector we had to bring with us is staring down at the lock on the gate, not sure what he should do. In a normal inspection he’d make two calls to the premises, then ask the sheriff’s department to serve a notice if there was no response.

I gently push him aside and look at the lock. It’s a simple barrel lock. “Would you ask Agent Reed what she thinks?” I tell the inspector, sending him over to Danielle.

She gives me a funny look. I give her a wink. The inspector begins to walk away and I grip the lock. Five second later it falls to the ground. The inspector spins around and stares at the lock resting in the dirt. “I guess it was already unlocked,” I reply innocently.

Shannon shakes his head. “I’m not sure if this is procedure.” There’s a trace of a smile on his face. “But I guess it’s legal if it’s unlocked.”

I reach for the gate to push it open. Danielle’s hand snaps out and grabs my wrist. “Hold up there, darlin’. We don’t know what he may have on the other side.”

“We checked it from the air,” replies Shannon.

“She’s right.” I pull my hand back. I lost my head in the moment. “We don’t want him knowing we’re here. I wouldn’t put it past him to have some kind of surveillance system in place. The moment we walk in the door, he’ll know we found his secret spot. And if there’s a chance he might come back here, we don’t want to ruin it.”